Off topic Tool Fetish

[Bill R.]

I seem to have a fetish for all kinds of sanders, i have a large number of random orbit, belt, straightline pad etc. I have just about every 5 or 6 inch Random orbit made including makita, porter cable, BD, Ryobi,metabo, etc At any rate the newest one that i bought seems like it will replace all the other random orbits that i have, After using it i don't see much use for the others in 5 inch. Mirka Ceros 5inch (http://www.mirka-ceros.com/CEROS_home.html) with the exception of the price it will replace all the others that i use a random orbit for. Of course if i had all the money i spent on the others i would have been ahead with just the ceros.

Anyway just a heads up for anybody out there who uses a sander alot.

[Tiger]

DC motors are expensive... just like Festool. $500!!!

I think I am going to upgrade to Dewalt... they work well enough for me. My Ryobi has bearing problem what will vibrate me into pieces. I am upgradeing my tools to mostly Dewalt and Bosch. I do alot of home construction jobs.

[genphreak]

Thanks for sharing, I always wanted a sander like that, not that I can buy it. But at last I know of one that will do what i need. Looks very nice indeed.

[Mr._Graybeard]

I picked up a pneumatic impact wrench from Craftsman that I'm liking a lot ... kind of an impulse purchase, but at 725 pounds-feet of torque it's an impressive performer. We'll see how durable it is -- Sears doesn't give it its lifetime warranty, just 1 year. I'm storing it in a case, trying to protect it from unnecessary hard knocks.

Here it is... Craftsman (http://www.craftsman.com/shc/s/p_10155_12602_00919865000P)

[Bill R.]

I picked up a pneumatic impact wrench from Craftsman that I'm liking a lot ... kind of an impulse purchase, but at 725 pounds-feet of torque it's an impressive performer. We'll see how durable it is -- Sears doesn't give it its lifetime warranty, just 1 year. I'm storing it in a case, trying to protect it from unnecessary hard knocks.

Here it is... Craftsman (http://www.craftsman.com/shc/s/p_10155_12602_00919865000P)

Mr. Graybeard,
I'm not a big fan of air tools, trying to avoid damaging my hearing any worse but the Nitrocat 1/2 impact has 1000 ft. lbs of breakaway torque and it was the quietest in its class when i bought it. Surprisingly quiet. But the newer ingersoll rands that i've seen are even quieter with the same or more torque. Only they are triple the price i paid for the Nitrocat.

[Mr._Graybeard]

Hi Bill,

I see that Northern Tool has the Nitrocat 1200-K for $240 -- looks like a good deal on a nice wrench. Lots of torque and only 86 db. It makes the Craftsman look kinda weak, altho my needs aren't too demanding. Note to self: stop buying stuff on impulse!

I have been sizing up a little project, replacing the front crank seal on my '82 300td. In your experience, do you think a decent impact wrench can loosen the crank bolt on most engines, or should I just plan on going at it with a breaker bar and cheater pipe? I haven't looked up the torque specs of the bolt, I'm guessing about 400 pounds-feet.

[Tiger]

$70 cheaper at Amazon

Amazon.com: NitroCat 1200-K 1/2-Inch Kevlar Composite Air Impact Wrench With Twin Clutch Mechanism: Home Improvement (http://www.amazon.com/NitroCat-1200-K-2-Inch-Composite-Mechanism/dp/B002Q8A98M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1318088940&sr=8-1)

So how is your impulse now? LOL I'll put it on my wishlist... that would keep it off my mind.

[Bill R.]

If you have room for it Harbor freight has a cheapie 3/4 and a 1inch impact for those really tight bolts, but they are pretty big and won't fit in the front on some cars. If you have enough air to feed it the 3/4 breaks most of them loose.... Alot of them the nitrocat won't break loose like many honda crank bolts and i use the harbor freight 3/4 on it. If that won't break it loose i have a Really big torque wrench and a 4x1 torque multiplier

http://www.bimmernut.com/forum/attachments/5-series-bmw/7508-off-topic-tool-fetish-torquewrench.jpg

I think i paid around 120 for the nitrocat when it first came out. At the time sellers on ebay were the cheapest.

[Tiger]

My HF Earthquake 1/2" impact gun is really powerful and quiet enough. It has been super reliable. The only negative thing about it... it weighs like a ton. Highly recommends the HF Earthquake lines. Their latest offering is impact ratchets... oooooh....